Strengths-Based Approaches in College and University Student Housing: Implications for First-Year Students' Retention and Engagement

Soria, Krista M.; Taylor, Leonard, Jr.

Journal of College and University Student Housing, v42 n2 p60-75 2016

Strengths-based approaches are expanding in higher education; however, little is known about the impacts of these approaches in housing and residence life settings. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between first-year students' strengths interactions in housing and their engagement and retention. The results suggest that first-year students who had strengths-based discussions with community advisors and also participated in strengths-based programming in housing had significantly higher engagement and retention than did their peers.